Shaping the future

3M™ Cubitron™ II Abrasive Belts The speed and cutting power of 3M precision shaped grain – now available in more grades and constructions!

3M™ Cubitron™ Abrasive Belts

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Forget everything you know about grinding with abrasive belts.

Improved Productivity “With Cubitron II belts, we’ve reduced belt changeover time by over 50%.” – Casting House

3M™ Cubitron™ II Abrasive Belts have set the world standard for cutting speed and belt life. Now, our expanded lineup of Cubitron II belts gives you more choices of grades, sizes and constructions – so you can enjoy the same world-class performance in applications ranging from high pressure automated grinding to low and medium pressure offhand applications. Cubitron  II belts continue to raise the bar for grinding performance and productivity – thanks to a breakthrough 3M technology that re-writes the rules for speed, consistency and belt life.

• Average up to 30% faster cutting on hard-to-grind metals than the nextbest competitive belt • Cuts cooler – diverts heat from the workpiece and belt to the swarf • Helps eliminate burnishing and heat stress • Lasts up to 4 times as long as conventional ceramic aluminum oxide belts • Now available in more belt sizes, grades and constructions, for applications ranging from high pressure, automated grinding to low and medium pressure offhand operations

Shaping a new era The secret behind the revolutionary performance of new Cubitron II belts lies in their proprietary triangular-shaped abrasive grain. These selfsharpening triangles are designed to fracture as they wear, continuously forming new, super-sharp points and edges that slice cleanly through the metal like a knife, instead of gouging or plowing. This prevents heat from building up in the workpiece – reducing heat-related stress cracks and discoloration. And, because the abrasive itself stays cooler and sharper, it lasts up to four times as long as conventional ceramic grain belts! Less Operator Fatigue “Because Cubitron II belts cut faster, nearly all operators report that much less pressure is required throughout the life of the belt.” – Aerospace Parts Manufacturer

As shown by the sparks in this photo, Cubitron II abrasives divert heat to the swarf, keeping both the workpiece and the belt cooler.

Higher Cut Rates “It took our operator 60 minutes to complete a work order using a competitor’s belt. He completed the same size work order in just 45 minutes, using a Cubitron II belt.” – Precision Casting Company

Longer Belt Life “I was able to get three times the life with the 994F 36+ versus the competitive ceramic belt. Not only did this increase my productivity but it also reduced the hassle of belt changeover.” – Foundry Operator

3M™ Cubitron™ Abrasive Belts

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Cuts Cooler, for Improved Part Quality “We processed 24 parts with no heat stress using a single Cubitron II belt, versus a competitive belt that showed signs of heat stress on the very first part.” – Investment Casting Company

of grinding performance Conventional ceramic abrasive grain is irregular and blocky in shape. Instead of a clean, machining action, the grain tends to “plow” through the metal, causing heat to build up in the workpiece and the abrasive – resulting in a slower cut, shorter belt life and undesirable effects, such as burnishing.

The new precision-shaped grain found in 3M™ Cubitron™ II Belts combines the advanced material properties of our original Cubitron grain with the precise microreplicated structures pioneered in 3M™ Trizact™ Abrasives. As the triangular shaped grain wears, it continuously fractures to form sharp points and edges. The result is a belt that cuts faster, stays cooler and lasts up to 4 times longer than the next best competitive belt.

www.3MCubitron2.com

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3M™ Cubitron™ Abrasive Belts

How cool is this?

No contest.

3M™ Cubitron™ II Belts are engineered to run cooler, eliminating metal discoloration/oxidation and reducing the chance of heat-related stress cracks.

Cubitron II vs. Conventional Grain Competitors

Competitor 1 Competitor 2 50% More

3M Cubitron™ II Competitive Belt 1 984F 36+

Competitive Belt 2

3M™ Cubitron™ II Belts

Material Removed

Competitive Belt 3

This photo shows four identical 304 stainless steel bars after nine grinding cycles of ten seconds each. While the three bars that were ground using conventional ceramic abrasive belts show varying degrees of oxidation, the bar ground with a Cubitron II belt is free of burnishing.

This photo shows three identical 304 stainless steel bars after nine grinding cycles of ten seconds per cycle using equal pressure. In that time, the Cubitron II belt removed more than 50% more metal than the so-called “next-generation” ceramic grain abrasive.

Taking productivity to the next level

For example, many operators report that Cubitron II belts run smoother, and cut fast with less pressure. This can mean less operator fatigue and greater comfort – which in turn can lead to fewer errors, greater consistency and improved employee morale.

Cut Rate (grams/cycle)

3M™ Cubitron™ II Abrasive Belts cut faster! 35

3M™ Cubitron™ II Belts

30 25 20

Ceramic Grain

15

Alumina-Zirconia

10

Aluminum Oxide

5 0

0

5

10

15 Cycle

20

25

30

The evolution of high-performance grinding abrasives In their day, each of the three competitive abrasive technologies shown on this graph represented a major advance in grinding performance. Now, in side-by-side comparisons of cutting rates on stainless steel, Cubitron II sets a new standard in productivity.

3M™ Cubitron™ II Abrasive Belts last longer! Cumulative Cut, SS304: Typical End Point

Weight of Metal Removed (grams)

3M™ Cubitron™ II Belts not only last up to four times longer than conventional ceramic abrasive belts, but also cut faster throughout their life. This translates to more finished parts per belt per hour – and more profit to your bottom line. But no belt can live up to its full potential – unless your employees see the benefit. That’s where Cubitron II belts can really push your productivity over the top.

600 500 400

3M™ Cubitron™ II Belts

300

Competitor 1

200 100 0 0

Typical Endpoints

Competitor 2 2

4

6

8

10

Time

12

14

16

18

20

3M surveys indicate that most operators stop using a belt when performance drops to 2/3 of its initial cut rate. As this graph shows, Cubitron II belts take twice as long to reach that end point as conventional ceramic abrasive belts. In addition, Cubitron II belts cut faster throughout their entire life. Bottom line? Not only is more work done per unit of time, but also much more total work per belt.

3M™ Cubitron™ Abrasive Belts

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Our new lineup of 3M™ Cubitron™ II Abrasive Belts 994F Z  -weight backing optimal for high pressure carbon steel, aluminum applications

High

984F Y  F-weight backing excels in medium/high pressure stainless, cobalt chrome and nickel alloy applications 947A X  -weight poly-cotton backing provides greater flexibility – optimized for low/medium pressure applications on stainless, mild steel and aluminum

Titanium Less

997F

Application Pressure

994F

Nickel

Backing Flexibility

997F Z  F-weight backing ideal for high pressure stainless, cobalt chrome and nickel alloy applications New Grades

Other Stainless Cobalt Soft Aluminum Carbon Steel Steel Chrome Metals

984F

947A More

Low

The new world standard for cutting speed and belt life 3M™ Cubitron™ II Abrasive Belt Selection Guide Because of the enhanced efficiency and durability of Cubitron II belts, you can use a similar or finer grade than your current belt, while enjoying significantly faster cut rates and longer belt life. And in many cases, by switching to a Cubitron II belt, you can reduce the number of steps in your sequence, without sacrificing surface finish. Substrate

Coarse Grade Portable/File Pressure Assist Tool Grinding

Slack of Belt Sander

Stroke Benchtop Belt Backstand Centerless and Flat Sander Machine Offhand Roll Grinding Finishing

Carbon Steel

947A/984F

994F

947A

947A

947A/984F

947A/984F

984F

984F

Stainless Steel

947A/984F

997F

947A

947A

947A/984F

947A/984F

984F

984F

Cobalt & Nickel Alloys

947A/984F

997F

947A

–

947A/984F

947A/984F

984F

984F

Aluminum, Brass, Bronze

947A/984F

994F

947A

947A

947A

947A

984F

984F

Product ID

Grades

Backing

Stiff/Flexible

Pressure

Wet/Dry

947A

40+, 60+, 80+, 120+

X Wt Poly/Cotton

Flexible

Low/Medium

Dry

YF Wt Polyester

Stiff

Medium/High

Wet/Dry

New Grades

984F

36+,

50+, 60+, 80+

120+

994F

36+

Z Wt Polyester

Very Stiff

High

Wet/Dry

997F

36+

Z Wt Polyester

Very Stiff

High

Wet/Dry

3M™ Cubitron™ II Abrasive Belts

At 3M, product innovation is just the beginning The 3M Customer Abrasive Methods (CAM) Center, located at 3M’s St. Paul, Minnesota, headquarters, was established to help customers identify the most cost-effective combination of abrasives, equipment and techniques for their particular applications. At the CAM Center, evaluations are carried out under controlled, repeatable conditions using a wide array of production scale grinding, polishing and finishing equipment, as well as in our on-site research and testing laboratories. The services of the 3M CAM Center include applications development, process optimization, operator training and other technical support. Contact your local 3M representative for more information.

Product Use: All statements, technical information and recommendations contained in this document are based on tests or experience that 3M believes are reliable. However, many factors beyond 3M’s control can affect the use and performance of a 3M product in a particular application, including conditions under which the product is used and the time and environmental conditions in which the product is expected to perform. Since these factors are uniquely within the user’s knowledge and control, it is essential that the user evaluate the 3M product to determine whether it is fit for a particular purpose and suitable for the user’s method of application. Warranty and Limited Remedy: Unless stated otherwise in 3M’s product literature, packaging inserts or product packaging for individual products, 3M warrants that each 3M product meets the applicable specifications at the time 3M ships the product. Individual products may have additional or different warranties as stated on product literature, package inserts or product packages. 3M MAKES NO OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY ARISING OUT OF A COURSE OF DEALING, CUSTOM OR USAGE OF TRADE. User is responsible for determining whether the 3M product is fit for a particular purpose and suitable for user’s application. If the 3M product is defective within the warranty period, your exclusive remedy and 3M’s and seller’s sole obligation will be, at 3M’s option, to replace the product or refund the purchase price. Limitation Of Liability: Except where prohibited by law, 3M and seller will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from the 3M product, whether direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential regardless of the legal theory asserted, including warranty, contract, negligence or strict liability.

3 Abrasive Systems Division 3M Center, Building 223-6N-02 St. Paul, MN 55144-1000 1-866-279-1235 www.3M.com/abrasives

Please recycle. Printed in USA. © 3M 2015. All rights reserved. Issued: 6/15 10568HB 61-5002-8253-0

3M, Cubitron and Trizact are trademarks of 3M Company. Used under license by 3M subsidiaries and affiliates.